10 Special Activities for Parents to Do with Their Children on Lunar New Year’s Day

Spring is a time for family reunions, where people engage in meaningful activities such as spring cleaning, decorating their homes, picking auspicious branches, writing auspicious words, and visiting temples. Below are 10 things parents should do with their children on the first day of spring to enhance family bonding and wish for good luck.

1Writing Auspicious Words

Writing auspicious words is a traditional cultural practice passed down through generations. This activity helps preserve traditional values and expresses respect for knowledge and education.

The first words written in the new year carry the hope for good fortune and luck for everyone. Therefore, parents should explain this custom to their children and encourage them to choose a beautiful notebook to write down their wishes for the year.

Writing Auspicious Words

For reference:  What to write and on which day is considered auspicious?

2Picking Auspicious Branches

Picking auspicious branches is a long-standing tradition that continues to this day. Usually, on New Year’s Eve or the first day of the new year, people visit temples, shrines, and communal houses to obtain young branches, believing that they bring good fortune and prosperity.

Nowadays, instead of plucking branches from trees, people mostly receive golden branches as a symbol of luck. Parents can take their children along on the first day of the new year to obtain these golden branches and explain this custom to them.

Picking Auspicious Branches

For reference:  What are auspicious branches and how do you pick them to attract good luck?

3First Visitor of the Year

The first visitor of the year is an age-old custom in Vietnam. It is believed that if the first visitor to a household on New Year’s Day is of a compatible age with the host, the host will enjoy good luck and prosperity throughout the year.

Many families invite children who are of a compatible age with the host, intelligent, and quick-witted to be their first visitor. This is an opportunity for parents to explain this custom to their children and make them feel proud and excited about their role.

First Visitor of the Year

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4Lucky Money for Children

Giving lucky money to children is an indispensable activity during the new year celebrations, carrying the significance of bestowing good luck, health, and peace upon the young ones.

However, parents should teach their children that the significance of lucky money lies not in the amount but in the auspicious red envelope itself. Additionally, parents should instruct their children to bow and express gratitude to the giver respectfully.

Lucky Money for Children

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5Visiting Temples

Visiting temples on the first day of the new year is a cultural practice in Vietnam, not limited to those who follow Buddhism. People visit temples to pray for peace, love, and good health for themselves and their families.

Parents can take their children to temples on the first day and teach them how to bow and pay respect to the Buddha in a solemn manner.

Visiting Temples

For reference:  Prayers, order of rituals, and offerings when visiting temples.

6Eating Traditional Lucky Foods

The new year feast includes a variety of delicious dishes, among which square glutinous rice cakes, banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes), banh chung (square sticky rice cakes), pickled onions, and boiled chicken are considered lucky foods. These foods not only taste delicious but also symbolize good luck and abundance for the coming year.

Parents can encourage their children to prepare and cook these traditional dishes together. This activity will teach children about the culinary customs of the new year and instill in them a sense of appreciation for the effort that goes into preparing food, reducing food waste.

Eating Traditional Lucky Foods

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7New Year Greetings

Exchanging new year greetings is essential, especially for children. Greeting family and friends strengthens bonds and allows us to express our well-wishes for the coming year.

Therefore, parents should teach their children some meaningful and auspicious new year greetings in advance so that they can share them with their loved ones, family, and friends.

New Year Greetings

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8Wearing New and Bright Clothes

Vibrant colors like gold and red dominate the new year celebrations. These colors symbolize good luck and prosperity and contribute to a cheerful atmosphere.

Parents should dress up with their children in their best and brightest outfits to welcome the new spring and greet the new year.

Wearing New and Bright Clothes

9Buying Salt

An old saying goes, “Buy salt at the beginning of the year and lime at the end,” implying that doing so will bring good luck and ward off bad omens and evil spirits.”

Parents can involve their children in this activity, and they will undoubtedly relish the responsibility entrusted to them.

Buying Salt

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10Speaking Kind Words

The new year is a time for cheerful conversations and well-wishes to attract good luck and smooth sailing throughout the year. Thus, people greet each other warmly during these festive days. Parents should also remind their children to refrain from crying or speaking negatively during this joyous season.

Speaking Kind Words

These are the ten things parents should teach and encourage their children to do during the Lunar New Year celebrations to bring good luck and happiness to the entire family.